Maria Ward, Frances Morgan and Anna
Spring considered themselves very close friend, as attending both
primary and secondary school had forged some sort of bond between the
three. Each had their own future aspirations, dreams, and vowed that
no matter where life took them, they would always be in touch. Each
was quite determined to strengthen their bonds and thus began the
creation of Facebook accounts and adding each other. For a while
after high school, daily contact was made and lunches were eaten
together during free time between courses.

It was not until three years into
University, did anything interesting really happen. Maria Ward
commented on her friends' pages one day, excitedly announcing new
love. Thomas Bertrum was a law student who had apparently been taken
towards Maria Ward's attitude and appearance. Shortly after the
joyous message, Thomas Bertrum graduated and successfully landed a
career in the law industry, quickly rising amongst the ranked
barristers. Shortly after that, he proposed to Maria Ward and
she tearfully accepted. The engagement was an event that sparked
scandals and rumours of Maria only marrying for his money. The two
lovers ignored the lies and were happy enough to invite only their
closest friends. Maria Ward did not fail to notice the steady fortune
that her husband was earning and felt quite content with her life,
though she would love him anyway, even if he was not rich.

After their wedding, Thomas Bertrum
and his new wife Maria Bertrum moved to the city, to an estate called
Mansfield Park where they were rich enough to employ maids to clean
and cook. Although Maria Bertrum had intended to finish her education
and graduate, the turn of events had changed her mind and she was
happy where she was. Her communication to her two closest friends via
Facebook (and various internet connection providers) had not ceased
either as she regularly chatted to them, often inviting them to visit
her.

Anna Spring was the next one to
marry, having found love in a calm and peaceful man who aspired to
become a Reverend. Michael Norris was a man with a sweet temper, and
being a generous man, he often donated to charity when he could
afford to, and sometimes, even when he could not. It was his selfless
heart that Anna had fallen in love with and their wedding, though
small, was everything that she could ask for. Her child hood friends
attended and expressed their congratulations to a beaming Anna. They
both wished her a happy and successful life with the one she loved.
The newlyweds soon moved into a quaint house near Maria Bertrum and
her husband, and the two saw each other often.

Frances Price was the last of the
three to marry; her choice in men had not been as fortunate as her
friends, but she was at least, satisfied with the man. She had met
her husband at a casino' he had been a black jack dealer. Although
he wasn't perfect, Frances still loved the man, loved Nathan Price
with all of her heart. The wedding only consisted of the two of them
at a cheap Las Vegas chapel under the dusty humid sky. For a while,
Frances Price lost contact with her two friends. It was not until her
husband was confined to a wheelchair after being hit by a car, was
Frances Price left to raise her four children. Upon the unfortunate
incident, Frances Price renewed contact with her old friends and they
soon learnt of her troubles. Frances Prices' oldest son was soon
recruited for the Navy and thus left in hopes of being able to send
money home for his family. Even with him gone, Frances Price found
many difficulties in retaining her daughters' health, found it hard
to satisfy their hunger. Finally, admitting to defeat, Frances Price
put two of her five daughters up for adoption. But what was she to do
with the youngest daughter who needed most care? The one who clung to
her leg and presented her with eyes that begged not to be abandoned?

An idea adorned her mind and Frances
Price sat down and wrote a very long letter to her dear friend Maria
Bertrum, pleading with her to take the young child in, and give her a
life that none of her siblings had been fortunate enough to receive.

Maria Bertrum happily accepted, but
it was her husband Thomas Bertrum that was reluctant.

"Honey, she's my friend, we
can't just stand by and watch as she suffers!" Maria Bertrum had
reasoned. "We have enough money to spare, enough until Frances can
manage on her own once again."

"I don't know...Frances could be
an alcoholic, or she could have a gambling problem. How will she pay
us back?" Thomas Bertrum had replied.

"Frances doesn't drink, and she
detests gambling." His wife had reassured him. "Oh go on honey;
let's accept her, as a favour to the time she looked after the kids
so that we could take Tom to the hospital."

Maria sighed exasperatedly. "Honey,
it'll be okay. Let's give this child a chance. We won't pamper
her and treat her as our own daughter but at least let's give her a
roof over her head."

Thomas Bertrum looked into his
wife's pleading eyes, only seeing determination. Finally, a small
smile crept to his lips and he gave in. "Fine. You have a heart of
gold, and that's why I love you so much."

Maria grinned and gave her husband a
long passionate kiss on the lips before racing off to personally call
her dear friend to tell her of the good news. Anna Norris found out
shortly afterwards and stormed into the Mansfield Manor to demand an
explanation, asking for full details.

The children were informed over
dinner, and thus, the waiting for the much talked about girl, Fanny
Price, begun.

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